Simultaneous Pancreas-Kidney Transplant: A Positive Stimulus in the Medical World

Kidneys are one of the essential organs of our body, with chronic kidney disease being a very prevalent and emotionally, mentally and physically straining condition affecting 1 in 15 people worldwide. The prevalence is further escalating with every passing year. It is slowly progressive in nature, and many times goes unnoticed until symptoms start manifesting and presenting themselves much later in life. In this article, end-stage renal disease (ESRD) due to diabetes mellitus and its effect on different organs is examined, along with the role of simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplant (SPKT) in the management of this condition. Although proven to be an assured treatment with an outstanding allograft acceptance rate, the fact that it is still not widely adopted in many healthcare setups due to financial implications is also studied. Online databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for the purpose of data collection; due to the very limited number of randomized controlled trials conducted on this given topic, a limited discussion was retrieved. By applying the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method and several inclusion/exclusion criteria, approximately 66 articles were assessed for eligibility based on the title and abstract. A total of 44 articles were shortlisted and considered in the final review. Several systematic reviews that have been conducted in the past reveal the importance of SPKT at an early stage of diagnosis towards increasing longevity of the patient with freedom from multiple medications. Transplant is a cost-effective therapy when compared to the prolonged dependence on dialysis, insulin pens, and increased susceptibility to infections. A greater number of specialists must also train to carry out SPKT and identify the early stages of ESRD, and medical centers should be encouraged to carry out transplant procedures effectively both financially and medically. This can be achieved through the development of global policy mechanisms and establishment of universally adoptable standards.